Allen Telescope Array Checks Out Star KIC 8462852

[Ichingcarpenter]

Could there be intelligent life hanging out in the vicinity of the star system KIC 8462852? The strange and strong dimming of this star has encouraged speculation that a technologically sophisticated civilization has built megastructures in orbit there.

Given this possibility, the SETI Institute has trained its Allen Telescope Array on this star for more than two weeks. Finding a signal would be a strong indication for the presence of intelligence.

Two different types of radio signals were sought: (1) Narrow-band transmissions, of order 1 Hz in width, that could be used as a “hailing signal” for societies wishing to betray their presence, and, (2) Broad-band signals produced by intense microwaves used to propel rockets servicing the megastructure.

Analysis of the Array data show no clear evidence for either type of signal between the frequencies of 1 and 10 GHz. This rules out omnidirectional transmitters of less than approximately 100 times today’s total terrestrial energy usage in the case of the narrow-band signals, and ten million times that usage for broad band emissions.


http://www.seti.org/seti-institute/ata-checks-out-star-kic8462852?utm_content=buffer9cb07&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Now that part just killed me..........Propel Rockets Seti? really propel rockets servicing the megastructure....... WTF Seti? Buck Rodgers 1930s tech shit talk?............ Oh and they would use radio waves after conquering the power of a sun?

Anyway

Professor Brian Cox has said that if an advanced alien civilisation had built a megastructure to harness energy from its star, it would not be "horrendously surprising". The physicist was speaking about the possibility of an alien megastructure around the star KIC 8462852 on Shaun Keavney's BBC Radio 6 breakfast show.

Cox said the discovery of the dimming star – located over 1,400 light-years from Earth – is nothing to be worried about, but that it certainly is an unusual find. The dimming star was found using the Kepler space telescope, which looks at planets around stars. With KIC 8462852, scientists noticed there were "huge light dips".

"A quarter of the light from the star would vanish – which even the biggest conceivable planet would only drop the light by about 1%. It's not planets that's doing it. And they're irregular and you can measure the shape - we can see it's not spherical and ... it's a very strange star system where there's something really big, or lots of big things orbiting around the star," said Cox.

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/alien-megastructure-brian-cox-says-dyson-sphere-around-distant-star-wouldnt-be-surprising-1527367

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[longship]

1. Like the discoverers have said.

It's very unlikely aliens, however there may be something important to see in a radio signal if it exists that does not indicate an alien structure. And of course, an intelligent signal would be very, very interesting.

The Allen Telescope Array is a pretty good radio telescope whether for SETI or other science. It is at least good enough for a preliminary look-see. The Parks and VLA radio telescopes are apparently both also intending to look. I read one report of the Byrd scope at Green Bank as well.

So, this is science even though alien structures is unlikely.